from Pierre LeBrun of ESPN,

So raise your hand if you aren't a fan of the Anaheim Ducks but had them making the playoffs this season.

Right, thought so.

Certainly not this guy.

And while a lot of hockey remains to be played in this shortened season, somewhat lost under the radar nationally has been Anaheim's surprisingly excellent 6-1-1 start.

Where to start with this batch of darling Ducks? You've got Francois Beauchemin and Sheldon Souray playing their best hockey in half a decade, youngsters Kyle Palmieri and Nick Bonino finding their stride, the Ducks actually rolling four lines and a goalie named Viktor Fasth looking like Pelle Lindbergh.

continued